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3 hours ago

Greg Stiemsma’s Contract To Become Fully Guaranteed

The C’s gave their 26-year-old rookie a vote of confidence before Tuesday’s game. By not waiving the seven-footer, Stiemsma’s contract will become fully guaranteed on Friday, allowing the shot blocker to breath a little bit and perhaps unpack some boxes for good in Beantown. Here’s Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston with some reaction from Stiemsma and [...]

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19 hours ago

5 Questions With Kemba Walker

I had a chance to talk with Bobcats rookie Kemba Walker prior to the Celtics game against Charlotte on Tuesday night.  Here is what the UConn star, who is averaging 12.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game had to say. 1. How much communication have you had with Michael Jordan this year? Walker: [...]

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2 days ago

I Am Awesome!

Yes. This is a “pat myself on the back” post because a) I’m a jackass and b) I predicted something correctly. Back on January 8th, I predicted that the next ten games will tell us everything we need to know about this Celtics’ team. If they struggled, it was time to blow it up. If [...]

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2 days ago

Pierce Wins Eastern Conference Player Of Week

One day before he’s scheduled to pass Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list, Paul Pierce won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Pierce averaged 22 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in four Boston wins, playing point forward in Rajon Rondo’s absence. Pierce is only 9 points behind Bird [...]

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3 days ago

Garnett’s Wondrous 3-point Rant

Via ESPN Boston’s Chris Forsberg, who knows a great, playful rant when he hears one, here’s Kevin Garnett discussing his not-so-newfound aptitude for three-point shooting after the C’s took down the Grizzlies. “When I walk around the streets, y’all stop acting like y’all shocked that I can shoot 3’s. Everybody in Boston, everybody in the [...]

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3 days ago

5 Questions With O.J. Mayo

I talked with Memphis guard O.J. Mayo prior to the Celtics-Grizzlies, Super Bowl Sunday game at the Garden.  Here is what the 4th year man out of USC, who is averaging 12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game had to say. 1. You started every game your first two years in the league, [...]

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Just What the Celts Needed: Celtics 122, Pacers 103

ESPN Recap  • Indy Cornrows • Eight Points Nine Seconds

If only for one game, the Memphis loss was a wake up call for this Celtics team.  Every single thing writers and fans have been clamoring for since Christmas culminated in a beautiful exhibition at the Garden on Friday night.  The game started much like any other Celtics game from the past eight to ten weeks.  The C’s played hard, shots seemed to be falling, but no matter how many plays Celtics made in the early going, the Pacers matched bucket for bucket.  This game had all the makings of another young team poised to run the Celtics out of the gym.

The Celtics refused to oblige.  They ramped up their defense at the same time their bench came in and heated up Boston’s ice cold offense.  The most encouraging thing about this game was the fact that the C’s didn’t rest on their laurels (or their 20 point lead) and get themselves caught looking toward Sunday.  True, the Celtics let a 27 point lead dwindle get dented down to 14 before settling back comfortably in the 20s- this game never had the same possession for possession angst the past 15 some-odd games has had.

For the sake of time, and the celebration I know you’re having right now, let’s discuss just how everything came up Green tonight:

THE STARTERS

Leading up to this game, writers and fans talked about how the Celtics looked old, needed a change, and didn’t have enough energy (or talent) to even hang with mediocre teams.  Nothing typified this more than the offensive outpouring we all enjoyed watching tonight.  Pierce had 20 points on 7-12 shooting.  Pierce only missed one shot from within the arc.  Allen was a very efficient 5-7 and did a great job coming off screens and getting his shots off.  Rondo returned to his old tricks, dealing out double digit dimes and chipping in 16 points.  Kevin Garnett was ACTIVE tonight, knocking balls away and definitely assisted Perk on a couple of Perk’s 7 boards.  Speaking of Perk, he finally scored in double digits tonight.  Unfortunately, he still and will always put the ball on the floor for one dribble when he should be powering it up to the hoop.

THE BENCH

Nate Robinson

Welcome to Beantown Nate.  I don’t know about you but I was chugging the Natorade all night.  5 for 5 from three is half of why Nate was br0ught to Boston.  The “to the basket” moves will come.  Until it does it’s nice to see the Eddie House’s production is still here.

Michael Finley

This guy just doesn’t miss open shots.  When you watch every single game with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, you get used to seeing great players miss shots.  I don’t think Finley will play enough for us to get used to him missing shots- especially open shots.

Glen Davis

This kid is getting confident.  While the game was out of reach long before Baby was bombing shots from the free throw line, he introduced an effective spin-move-baby- hook that actually had arc on it (something that Perk has yet to figure out).

I apologize for the brevity but I have some friends warming up a car for me.

More to come tomorrow.  Enjoy C’s fans.

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